Improvement in gas-retort chargers



3 Sheets-Sheet I.

A. Q. ROSS. Gas-Retort Charger.

Patented Dec. 9, 1879 N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D 04 'flsheetssheet 2.

Gas-Retort Charger. No. 222,562.

Patented Dec. 9, 1879.

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N- PEI'LRS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. (LROSS. Gas-Retort Charger.

No. 222,562. Patented Dec. 9,1879.

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PATENT QFFIGE.

ABBOTT o. ROSS, or cINoINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAS-RETORT CHARGERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,562, dated December 9, 1879 application filed September 29, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABBOTT Q. Ross, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gas-Retort Chargers; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

. clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, .forming part of this specification, in

which- Figure l is a top-plan view; Fig. 2, a front elevation, and Fig. 3a side elevation.

United States No. 212,573, dated the 25th dayof February, A. I). 1879, were granted to me; and it consists, first, in the combination of a main car or platform movable back and forth in front of the retorts, a secondary frame or support for the charging-vessel, movable in and out toward and from the retorts, and a hoisting engine, located on the secondary frame, for raising the charging-vessel; secondly, iu the combination, with the main car or platform and the secondary movable frame or support mounted thereon, of a steam'charging hopper or vessel and means for raising and lowering the same vertically, and a steam receiver and boiler located on the main car or platform, and connected to the charging-vessel by a flexible or jointed pipe; thirdly, in

. the combination, with the main car or movable platform and the movable secondaryframe .or support for the charging-hopper, of a hoistplatform, a secondary movable frame carrying a vertically-adjustable steam-charging hopper or vessel, a hoisting-engine on the secondary frame for' raising the steam-charging vessel,

. and asteam receiver and boiler arranged on the r main car and connected both to the chargingvessel and to the hoisting-engine by flexible or jointed steam-pipes separately controllable;

' fifthly, in the combination, with averticallyadjustable charging-vessel, raised and lowered by the movement of a hoisting-shaft, of a frictionbrake operating in connection with said shaft for the purpose of controllingor arresting its movements and assisting in adjusting the charger to the different retorts, and holding it in place when so adjusted; and, lastly, in the devices and combinations of mechanism, which contribute to the practical working and beneficial results of the apparatus, substantially as I will now proceedto set forth.

In the drawings, A is a suit-able car or platform mounted upon four wheels, at a a a, on which it is guided back and forth, in front of and parallel to the face of the retorts, in any suitable manner. It may be propelled by the power of steam or compressed air, substantially as set forth in my former patent, above referred to, or by hand-power applied either directly or through the medium of a crankand-gear connection, as may be preferred by the constructor or purchaser. Two guidetracks, (preferably rails,) to a, are arranged on the platform parallel to the axles of the wheels at a, for the purpose of guiding the charging mechanism back and forth toward and from the mouth of the retorts.

Areservoir, B, is stationed upon one side of the platform, to contain the compressed air or the steam to be used for charging, and it is connected by a pipe, b, to the air-compressing engine or steam-boiler C, also arranged upon the platform, whereby the reservoir or receiver can be charged with a sufficient supply of elastic fluid under pressure by mechanism arranged on the platform, and without the necessity of tubular connections to any outside point, or of running the apparatus to any place to charge the receiver. This compact and movable arrangement of all the parts is further advantageous in that it enables the attendant or attendants who charge the retorts to attend to the generator more conveniently, and to watch more closely the condition of the fire and water in the furnace and boiler, respectively. It also shortens up the steam-connections, thereby preventing coudensation, and keeping the reservoir steam hotter and drier. The connecting-pipe 1) serves also as a stay both to the reservoir and the boiler, enabling them to support each other.

The charger and conduit, represented at D,

-are substantially of the same construction shown in my former patent, above referred to, and are operated by exploding the steam or airin blasts of successively decreased force, as therein described.

The steam-pipe or air-pipe which conveys the elasticfluid from the receiverto the charger is shown at d, and its throttle-valve at d.

The charger, as here shown, is not capable of rocking, but is guided in vertical lines,with the conduit always horizontal, by means of six (more or less) projecting guide-arms, 0.0 0, having their ends recessed to tit partially around the uprights f of the movable carriage 1*, which runs back and forth on the rails a. a.

Thelowerguide-arms, c e, arrest the descent of the charger at the extreme lower end of its movement by striking against stops 8 on the uprights or frame of the carriage. A rocking charger may, however, be used, if preferred.

The secondary carriage or frame F is mounted on four wheels,f and consists of two triangular upright sides f'f f connected together at their lower ends by the axles of the wheels f and at their upper ends by a cross-bar,f, and the hoistingshaft G.

The charger is raised and lowered by wire ropes or chains h passing around grooved pulleys h on said shaft. The ends of the shaft project through the supportlug-frame, and, at

one extremity, carry a grooved pulley, m, while.

at the other a friction-brake, I, is connected to the shaft, and is operated by a level-handle, t, at the side nearest to the receiver and boiler.

A ratchet plate, 1', or equivalent locking device, may be employed for the purpose of holding the brake to its work.

The carriage is further preferably provided with a floor, j', which strengthens it and furnishes a convenient stand for the operator. It may also be provided with a pulley, 7;, on one of the axles, and a belt, Ir, extending therefrom to a pulley, k on a short crankshaft, Ir, whereby the attendant can run the carriage back and forth at will upon the platform or car A.

As a means for raising and lowering the charger I) to adjust it to the difl'elent levels of the retorts, I employ a steam-cylinder, M, containing a piston and piston-rod, N, and supplied with live steam from the receiver by means of a flexible jointed or telescopic pipe, 0. The cylinder is, preferably, supported by the inclined frame-work f, and arranged in the position shown in the drawing, with the upper end of the piston-rod extending toward the pulley m, to which it is connected by a wire rope or chain, p, that passes around the pulley. \Y hen arranged in this position, steam is admitted to its upper end, so as to depress the piston, unwind the wire rope or chain 1), and wind up the wire rope or chains h h, thereby elevating the charger. When the charger arrives at the required height it may be held in that position by the brake I or by closing the steam-port 'r and the exhaust r, and holding the pipe and cylinder charged with steam, or by any other means that may be preferred. It may be eased down by the brake or .by slowly exhausting the steam or other fluid from the cylinder.

A small puncture should be made in the lower end of the cylinder to equalize atmospheric pressure and to allow any steam, air, or water of condensation to escape.

In case the steam should act by expansion after the throttle-valve or pipe 0 is closed, the brake can be used to hold the charger from rising too far, and, in case the steam in the cylinder should suffer any diminution of force, by condensation or otherwise, the brake will also hold the charger from descending.

The brake may be used both for regulating the ascent and descent of the charger.

Both the pipes at and 0 should be connected to the upper end of the receiver in order to get dry steam, and should be of such length as to permit the proper movement of the carriage F without dragging on the floor or getting under the wheels. It preferred, they may be triccd up or supported clear of the floor or platform by any suitable means.

The ends of the rails a a may be bent up, as shown at a or provided with suitable stops to prevent the carriage from running off. The various cocks and handles are arranged in positions convenient for the attendant when on the stand f.

I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the details of construction here shown and described, but may vary the same at pleasure, so long as the essential principles of operation are preserved. I would further say that any form of steam or air engine may be substituted for the hoisting-engine shown, in which case the connections should be properly adapted thereto.

I regard the use of compressed air as the equivalentof steam, and a compressing engine and boiler for drivingit, when air is to be used, as the equivalent of a steam-boiler alone when steam is to be used.

The advantages of these improvements are numerous and important. The apparatus can, by means of them, be much more quickly and conveniently adjusted and operated. By means ofthe steam-lift the charger can be elevated quickly and positively to the level of the retort to be charged. If the lower retort is first charged, it is then only necessary to move the charger back a few inches till the conduit clears the mouth of the retort,and then, by a movement ofthe throttle-valve r, raise it a few inches to the next retort, or to the upper retort, if desired, all of which is accomplished in a moment, without exertion on the part of the attendant.

The exhaust-valve r,.being arranged below the throttle-valve r, enables the same pipe, 0, to answer for supplying steam to the engine and exhausting it therefrom, and, by exhausting it slowly, to control the speed at which the charger is lowered, independently of the brake, while, on theother hand, the brake may be used to control, or assist in controlling, the

. speed of both the upward and downward movements of the, charger. The secondary carriage can be run back and forth by the attendant upon it without stepping out of reach of the various valves or levers'used by him in directing and controlling the movements of the other parts.

I am aware that the patent granted to W.

, Foulis, dated November 11,1873,No.1.44,526, for gas-retort charger, shows a main frame capable of being moved back and forth in front of the retorts, a secondary frame carrying the charge-holder mounted on said frame,

and movable toward and from the retorts, and

an apparatus for raising and lowering the charge-holder to different heights; but .the said Foulis machineis so organized that, in order to effect the raising and lowering of the charge holder, the whole secondary carriage a cunibrous and heavy one -must also be raised andlowered; whereas, in my machine herein described the charging-vessel or holder only is required to be raised, thus enabling the operation to be performed more quickly and with less expenditure of power. More over, in Foulis machine the point of application of the power for raising and lowering the charge-holder cha'n ges accordlng as the secondary carriage is adjusted in or-out, while in my machine the ralsing and lowering of the ,charging-vessel is effected in the same manner wherever its location may be.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a gas-retort charger, the combination of a main car ortplatform, A, movable back and forth in front of the retorts, a secondary frame or support for the chargingwessel, movable in and out toward and from the retorts, and a hoisting-engine, located on the secondary frame, for raisin g the charging-vessel, substantially as described, for the purpose speci- 2. In a gas-retort charger, a main. car or pla'tform,'A, movable back and forth in front of the retorts, a secondary frame or support for the charging-hopper, movable in or out toward and from the retorts, a steam-charging hopper or vessel, and means for raising and lowering the same vertically, and a steam re- .ceiver and boiler, located on the main car or platform, and connected to the charging-vessel by a flexible or jointed pipe, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

raising the charging-hopper, and a steam receiver and boiler on the main car, and connected to the hoisting-engine on the secondary stantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a gas-retort charger, a main car or platform, A, movable back and forth in front of the retorts, a secondary frame or support for the charging-vessel, movable in and out toward and from the retorts, a vertically-adjustable steam-charging hopper or vessel, a hoisting-engine on the secondary frame, for raising the steam-charging vessel, and a steam receiver and boiler arranged on the main car, and connected both to the charging-vessel and to the hoisting-engine by flexible or jointed steam-pipes separately controllable, substau tially as described.

5. In a gas-retort charger, a vertically-adjustable charging-vessel raised and lowered by the movement of a hoistingshaft, in combination with afriction-brake operatingin connection with said shaft, for the purpose of controlling or arresting its movements and assist ing in adjusting'the charger to the different retorts and holding it in place when so ad.

justed, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the platform A, charger, and carriage F, with the receiver and boiler, both arranged on the main platform at the side of the carriage I whereby theflexible or jointed pipe or pipes, of minimum length, receive steam from the top of the receiver at the side of the secondary track and about midway of the movement of the carriage thereon, and are supported by such receiver in an elevated position, so as to clear the platform and accommodate themselves readily to the movements of the charger on the carriage or upper movable frame, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the carriage, the charger, and the flexible or jointed pipe with a steam or air cylinder and piston having the induction and exhaust on one side of the pis ton, whereby the charger is raised by the induction of the steam or air and lowered by its eduction, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the charger with the guides, the hoistingshaft, the wire ropes and pulleys, and the steam or air cylinder and piston arranged on the movable carriage, and connected to the receiver by a, flexible or jointed pipe, substantially as described.

9. The combination of the carriage F, hav-- ing the triangular sides, with the inclined cyl inder supported by one of the inclined sides of the carriage, and having its piston moving toward and from the hoisting pulley or shaft, substantially as described.

ABBOTT Q. ROSS. Witnesses:

GEO. W. GORMANY, W. G. NOLAN, JOHN SrRArrToN. 

